Name: Leisl Haas
Age: 20
Hometown: Budapest, Austria-Hungary
December 8:
Why did we get involved in WWI?
When I was in grade school, my teachers told me about the rivalry between Germany and France over Morocco. They also told us me about Germany and Britain building up their militaries and competing for the largest navy. My parents talked to my brothers and I about how the countries felt like they couldn't trust other countries and the signing of some treaties. They mentioned something about alliances. They said that the alliances were created to create powerful combinations of countries that no one would attack. The rival alliances that were created, they would say, increased tension between the countries that were against each other. When I was in junior high, the Archduke from our country, Francis Ferdinand, announced that he was going to visit Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, and I remember the Serbs in our town being outraged by this. Some of the adult Serbs said that us Austrians were foreign oppressors. I remember that I was in the eighth grade when he announced this, and I was so excited when my mother and father let me go to see the Archduke and his wife go by in their car. On their way to see a man in the hospital that had been hurt by an assassination attempt, the Archduke and his wife were shot by a member of a terrorist group called the black hand.
How did we react to the assassination of the Archduke?
After the assassination of our Archduke, Francis Ferdinand, our government sent an ultimatum to Serbia's government saying that in order to avoid war, the Serbs had to end all of the agitation toward us. The Serbian government, in turn, agreed to some but not all of the ultimatum. Since they didn't agree to all of it, I started hearing that we declared war on Serbia from everyone in our town. All of my friends and I went to enlist in the war effort. We were so excited that we could help out that we had a celebration at my parents' house.
December 15:
Battle Plan!!
Propaganda Poster
Our battle plan was to use our nation's artillery (cannons and howitzers) to beat the other countries both on land and on sea. We are going to put the weapons in both our battleships and in our trenches so that we can get the enemy on both planes. We are getting help from our German friend, which will help us alot down the road. They can make us a stronger force with them at our side fighting Serbia their friends in Russia. Germany is protecting us, so they in turn declared war on Russia. I hear that Russia is getting help from Britain, so, I don't know what we'll do now. Here is a propaganda poster from our country. It is basically comparing our enemies children. It uses catchy slogans and humor to do this.
Entering and Leaving
Russia exited the war later on because of some struggles in their country. This is better for us because Russia was one of our biggest enemies. After the Russians came out of the war, however, the United States joined in the war effort against our German allies. This makes it worse for our country because in fighting against our German allies, they are in turn fighting us as well. Now we have to work just as hard as we did when we were fighting against the Russians. When we did fight against them, however, we spent days at a time in trenches. It was frightening because if you poked your head out one centimeter, you could get your head shot off by a machine gun. It was horrifying.
December 22:
Christmas Break
It was amazing over Christmas during the war because on Christmas Eve, we had a break. There was no fighting on that day. One of my friends, Raulph, even went over to the enemy trenches and was saying things like "Hello there," and "I want to talk to you." They all came out of their trenches and the men played soccer in the no man's land between them. We exchanged chocolate and jam with our enemies, and I made a few friends. We are still in touch even now.
December 29:
Treaty of Versailles
When the Treaty of Versailles was signed, we were glad that we didn't have to fight any longer. The terms the Allies made our German allies sign for were preposterous, however. Making just one country pay for a whole war is rediculous. If the war is anyone is to blame, it should be Serbia because they assassinated our archduke, which caused the whole war. That's just what I think. When I returned home, It was AMAZING! To see my family and friends again was the best thing I could have imagined. I was well recieved by them and they welcomed me with alot of hugs.
All hail Austria!!
Age: 20
Hometown: Budapest, Austria-Hungary
December 8:
Why did we get involved in WWI?
When I was in grade school, my teachers told me about the rivalry between Germany and France over Morocco. They also told us me about Germany and Britain building up their militaries and competing for the largest navy. My parents talked to my brothers and I about how the countries felt like they couldn't trust other countries and the signing of some treaties. They mentioned something about alliances. They said that the alliances were created to create powerful combinations of countries that no one would attack. The rival alliances that were created, they would say, increased tension between the countries that were against each other. When I was in junior high, the Archduke from our country, Francis Ferdinand, announced that he was going to visit Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, and I remember the Serbs in our town being outraged by this. Some of the adult Serbs said that us Austrians were foreign oppressors. I remember that I was in the eighth grade when he announced this, and I was so excited when my mother and father let me go to see the Archduke and his wife go by in their car. On their way to see a man in the hospital that had been hurt by an assassination attempt, the Archduke and his wife were shot by a member of a terrorist group called the black hand.How did we react to the assassination of the Archduke?
After the assassination of our Archduke, Francis Ferdinand, our government sent an ultimatum to Serbia's government saying that in order to avoid war, the Serbs had to end all of the agitation toward us. The Serbian government, in turn, agreed to some but not all of the ultimatum. Since they didn't agree to all of it, I started hearing that we declared war on Serbia from everyone in our town. All of my friends and I went to enlist in the war effort. We were so excited that we could help out that we had a celebration at my parents' house.December 15:
Battle Plan!!
Entering and Leaving
Russia exited the war later on because of some struggles in their country. This is better for us because Russia was one of our biggest enemies. After the Russians came out of the war, however, the United States joined in the war effort against our German allies. This makes it worse for our country because in fighting against our German allies, they are in turn fighting us as well. Now we have to work just as hard as we did when we were fighting against the Russians. When we did fight against them, however, we spent days at a time in trenches. It was frightening because if you poked your head out one centimeter, you could get your head shot off by a machine gun. It was horrifying.December 22:
Christmas Break
It was amazing over Christmas during the war because on Christmas Eve, we had a break. There was no fighting on that day. One of my friends, Raulph, even went over to the enemy trenches and was saying things like "Hello there," and "I want to talk to you." They all came out of their trenches and the men played soccer in the no man's land between them. We exchanged chocolate and jam with our enemies, and I made a few friends. We are still in touch even now.December 29:
Treaty of Versailles
When the Treaty of Versailles was signed, we were glad that we didn't have to fight any longer. The terms the Allies made our German allies sign for were preposterous, however. Making just one country pay for a whole war is rediculous. If the war is anyone is to blame, it should be Serbia because they assassinated our archduke, which caused the whole war. That's just what I think. When I returned home, It was AMAZING! To see my family and friends again was the best thing I could have imagined. I was well recieved by them and they welcomed me with alot of hugs.